New mobile app launched to help people track their methamphetamine use and reduce drug-related harms

Researchers at the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED) have today launched the S-Check app to encourage people who use methamphetamine to seek help and treatment earlier. 

S-Check is a self-administered smartphone app for people to track their methamphetamine use, monitor the impact of the drug on their health and wellbeing, and get tips and support for any health issues. 

Based on the Stimulant Check-Up (S-Check) service model at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney (SVHS), the app is aimed at engaging people who have not previously accessed traditional modes of treatment to reduce harms and to encourage them to seek treatment before problematic methamphetamine use begins or becomes entrenched. 

The team at NCCRED, which is based at SVHS and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney, said they hoped to address the substantial delays in treatment seeking that is typical among individuals with problematic methamphetamine use. 

“The time between problems arising due to methamphetamine use and seeking treatment can be up to 10 years, and existing treatment options for people who use methamphetamine are limited,” said NCCRED Clinical Research Lead, Dr Krista Siefried. 

“Apps like S-Check provide an option for people who are curious about their use or looking for resources while they wait for treatment.” 

S-Check allows individuals to complete self-assessments to understand the impact of methamphetamine use on their broader health, such as their psychological wellbeing and sexual health. 

Information collected in the app can also be shared with an individual’s doctor or other healthcare provider for a more tailored health assessment. 

The launch of S-Check follows promising results from a 28-day clinical trial that included 560 Australian adults who reported methamphetamine use at least once a month, half of whom had immediate access to the app. 

“In a randomised trial this app supported people in exploring their methamphetamine use and its impacts on their sexual, psychological and physical health,” said Dr Siefried. 

“People who had immediate access were more likely to seek out professional help in the following 28 days than those who were randomised to wait.” 

The 2023 study showed that compared to the control group, almost twice as many participants with immediate access to S-Check sought professional help by day 28. 

Furthermore, among those not seeking help at baseline, each minute spent using the app increased the likelihood of seeking professional help by 8% by the end of the trial. 

S-Check can be downloaded for free from the iOS and Android app stores. 

Media contact: 0401 713 850 | ndarc.media@unsw.edu.au

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